Trying to grown plants with two dogs

[TomYumSoup]

Have seen a similar thread to this lately but my problem is not with my lawn as although it is covered with brown patches we re-seed and feed regularly and I can live with it but with plants. We have three borders and apart from trampling on the shrubs which they can just about cope with one of the dogs insists on cocking his leg on each plant. I have tried putting cat & dog repellant down but it doesn't deter him. I've tried log roll and he just steps over it. Any ideas other than raised beds which might be a bit costly. The only thing I can think of would be higher edging but it would have to be pretty high (big dog) and you wouldn't be able to see the shrubs although most of them have died anyway now. Any ideas appreciated. Maybe you just can't have a nice garden if you have two big dogs.

I'm wondering if you might have more luck training the dogs than trying to physically stop them. Perhaps dedicate a section of the garden that is for them and encourage them to use it as much as possible - do you clicker train? if so it should be quite simple to encourage them to wee in a certain area by rewarding them when they go there.

I think it's the ammonia in urine that kills the plants so perhaps try and "rinse" the plants off? Maybe hose them down in the evening or something?

I'm sure I've got an article somewhere about gardening with dogs - I'll see if I can find it.

You could try dog rocks in their water too.

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately I don't do clicker training and my dogs are usually let out in the garden by themselves for short periods of time but I will have a think about that. I will try rinsing the plants and will have a look at those dog rocks too. Thanks again.

If you decide you want to have a crack at training, feel free to drop me a PM and I can talk you through the process. Alternatively pop over the the doghouse - lots of advice over there.
Best of luck!